The Pride

by Patricia Morse

  “She was about the same size as you, just a little bit bigger, but close enough to make a good guess.”

  I walked over and gave him a big squeezy hug.

  “Careful now Lexie, you’re giving me impure thought.”

  I playfully smacked him on the chest. “Men!!” I couldn’t believe how good it felt to feel like myself again. I felt playful, hopeful, and most of all, I felt safe. “So Talon, what should we do tonight.”

  He pensively scratched his chin. “I can think of a few things.”

  I crossed my arms in front of me, shook my head, and giggled. “Never on the first date Mr. Wilkinson!”

  He leaned back on the bed and chuckled. “How ‘bout a movie then? I could go for some nice buttery popcorn.”

  “Oh a movie sounds wonderful! Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had movie theater popcorn?”

  “Alright a movie it is. There’s a theater right in the shopping plaza out back.”

  The hotel concierge gave us the show times, and luckily, Toy Story 2 was starting in about a half hour. We took out time walking through the parking lot. There was a slight chill in the air, so Talon removed his green army jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I pulled it tightly around my neck. It smelled lightly of Drakkar. I noticed how tightly his black tee shirt was being pulled by his biceps. He had a tribal tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve. He caught me staring at his rippling muscles, which made me blush once again. He held the door open for me once we arrived at the theater, always a perfect gentleman. Once inside I slipped off his jacket and tried to hand it back to him.

  “No, you keep it. It’ll be cold in the theater.”

  “But won’t you get cold.”

  “Maybe, but I wouldn’t be a real man if I let a lady get chilly.”

  “Thank you once again for your kindness, sir,” I said using my best Scarlett O’Hara impression.

  Talon bought two tickets to Toy Story 2. We opted for separate tubs of popcorn. I chose light butter, and he ordered as much butter and salt as the theater had. Talon got a Coke, and I decided on a raspberry iced tea. We walked in comfortable silence to our seats in the back row of the theater. The silence continued as we gorged ourselves on popcorn until the previews started.

  The movie was a wonderful distraction. I laughed, I cried, and then I laughed again. We meandered out with the large crowd that quickly dispersed into the parking lot. Talon stopped abruptly and cocked his head pensively to the side.

  “Lexie, I’m not ready for sleep. What should we do now?”

  I scanned the shopping complex. “I don’t know Talon. I’m actually pretty beat, and we have a big day tomorrow.”

  “You’re right, Lexie. We need to map out our game plan. You’re sure you wanna do this, right?”

  “Of course I am! Why would you even ask me that?”

  “You just got away from something really bad, and now you’re running right back to it.”

  “Talon, they’re my family! I can’t just let them suffer.”

  “Why not let the authorities handle it? This seems like something more than one woman can handle.”

  “That’s why I have you.” I giggled flirtatiously and flicked the tip of his chin with my index finger.

  “Lexie, I’m only one man. I can’t handle an army. We have no weapons. Are we just gonna barge in and talk them into releasing your friends.”

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet, Talon. I just know I have to get there. I can’t let them die.”

  “You mean you can’t let them die alone?”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “If you go there, Lexie, you’ll die too. Would you be accomplishing anything then?”

  It seemed we were at a standstill. Everything Talon was saying was making perfect sense, and it was really making me mad. I couldn’t think rationally right now. I just needed to be with my family.

  “Look Talon, if you don’t want to come with me I’ll understand. You’ve already done more than I ever expected any one person to do. I’m grateful for that, grateful for you; I really am! But, I need to get to them. I need them to know that I never gave up on them.”

  “You’re doing this so you don’t have to live with the guilt, Lexie. If they die, their blood won’t be on your hands. It’ll be on the man wielding the sword.”

  “But, he’s wielding the sword because of me.”

  “Are you sure about that, Lexie?”

  “Are you saying I’m being vane? Maybe it’s best if you leave now, I’ve already pulled you into something I never should have.”

  “Damnit, Lexie! Now you’re just being stubborn! I was not implying that you were vane. I was saying that perhaps there is something else going on that doesn’t even involve you.”

  “So I’m being self-centered then.”

  “Damn, women! Can a man never win an argument?”

  Both of us began laughing. Talon rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit I’d been observing.

  “I’m gonna stick with you woman, but I swear to God if you get me killed, I’m gonna haunt you.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him and bolted across the parking lot. Talon followed. Thankfully, when we hit the business center in the lobby of the hotel, it was empty, so we could talk openly. Talon started by bringing up various maps of Kentucky.

  “Lexie, what can you tell me about this place?”

  “Not much unfortunately. All I know is that Evie and the fellas were in some sort of a dark room with rock walls.”

  “Kentucky has a lot of caves. They’re big tourist attractions for the state. Do you think it could have been a cave?”

  “I guess it could have been.”

  “I doubt your friends would be held captive in one of the caves we already know about, so what else can you tell me?”

  “Talon, I really can’t tell you anything more. I just don’t know.” I was feeling frustrated and defeated already.

  “Buck up, little beaver. We’re gonna find them. What I mean is, what can you tell me about the guy that’s holding them?”

  “Oh, that’s easy. He’s a jackass!” I winked.

  “C’mon, Lexie, try to be helpful.”

  I giggled nervously, took a deep breath, and began to tell him everything I knew. Classified smashified! “Link is…”

  “You mean the wrestling promoter guy?” He couldn’t contain his excitement.

  “Yeah, him! He’s the one at the center of all this debauchery!”

  “Great word! So Link has your friends? His excitement was replaced by complete confusion.

  “Yes.” I was being blunt.

  “Why?”

  “Here’s where things get really weird, and please don’t run away when I tell you this, OK.”

  Talon nodded, waiting patiently for me to begin. I nervously rubbed my hands together. He grasped his hands over mine, and gave me a reassuring smile. “Lexie, whatever you have to tell me, I’ll understand. I told you I’m in it for the long haul, and I meant it. Whatever you say won’t scare me away.”

  The sincerity in his voice offered a bit of reassurance. “I’m not human.” Being direct was the best way to let it all out.

  Talon laughed, then stifled it abruptly when he could see the dead seriousness in my eyes. “What Lexie, you’re a vampire, or an alien from Area 51?”

  “Not exactly, but kind of.”

  “Kind of what?”

  “Kind of vampire, kind of alien, and I guess kind of human.”

  Talon exhaled loudly. He left his relaxed position next to me, and began pacing near the glass doors of the business center.

  “Talon?” I was pleading with him for understanding.

  “Give me a second to process this.”

  I nodded, never letting my eyes leave his. He plopped down in the office chair at the desk and swiveled it to face me.

  “Alright Miss Lexie, I’m ready. Let’s hear your story.”

  Several hours, copious cups of coffee, and a c
omplimentary plate of chocolate chip cookies later I finished my story. I left out no aspect of my torture. If Talon wanted the truth, he got it. Every beating, electrocution, and ice water bath I’d received, he heard about. Every time I was bitten, or cut so Link could enjoy a taste of my blood was divulged to him. I spared no detail of the physical and psychological abuse my family and I had suffered at the hands of Link. I smiled once when I spoke of Thane, but that smile quickly turned to a snarl when I thought of his hand in my torture. How quickly love can turn to abhorrence. The deep-seated hatred I had for Thane actually burned in my belly when I spoke of him. In telling my story, I essentially discovered that I detested Thane more than Link. At last I finished. I met his gaze with apprehension. I think it was the first time I’d looked at him directly in hours. It was difficult to tell my story, to relive the pain. I was embarrassed.

  Talon sat silently for a long while. His eyes were teary, and it looked as if he might have been crying as I rehashed my nightmare. He leaned forward in his chair, and rubbed his face with both of his hands. I reached out to touch his hands, but he stood abruptly, slamming the chair back into the desk. “I’ll kill the son of a bitch!” It sounded like a roar, causing me to flinch. “I’ll kill him with my bare hands! I swear to God he will never lay a hand on you again! If it’s the last thing on this Earth that I do, I will tear him limb from limb!”

  I could see he was trembling. I stood and wrapped my arms around him. He squeezed me back so tightly I could barely breathe. It had been forty-three days since I’d felt this safe. I didn’t want this hug to ever end.

  Chapter 22

  Stormy Weather

  Evie

  I slept for at least six hours straight after Thane left. I actually felt rested for the first time in weeks. I tried to stretch, but the hitching pain in my side brought my arms back down quickly. I sat up slowly and looked around the room. It looked like a pretty typical hospital room, except for the windows. The glass was paned, which was odd because most hospitals have boring old sheets of glass for windows. I gazed out the window at the blowing tree tops. I could see lightning in the distance. I couldn’t tell if I was facing east or west, so I didn’t know if the storm was coming or going. I guess it was coming, since the trees were really starting to whip around outside. I really wanted to watch this storm. Watching storms always helped me clear my head. I did my best work during thunderstorms. Shortly after Jacks left, my heart was broken, and I couldn’t get anything done. I was mopey and miserable. My work was suffering and I was just tired of existing. I needed something new, so I took off for a hurricane vacation. I flew to the Caribbean at the height of hurricane season and waited for a good one. Then I made sure I was right in the middle of it. Reckless and stupid, I know, but it worked. Storms just freshen and cleanse my mind, just like they do the earth once they’ve passed. I love the smell of the fresh wet grass right after a good storm. I think storms are Mother Nature’s way of blowing human stink off of her beautiful glowing blue orb. Just my own personal little theory. My need to watch the approaching storm overtook the pain jabbing at my side. I gingerly placed my bare feet on the wood floor and slowly stood up. My breaths were deep and purposeful as I recited “In through your nose, and out through your toes.” For some reason it helped. I reached over and unplugged my I.V. machine so I could drag the pole with me to the window. By the time I got to the window the rain was coming down in sheets, blurring the lightning streaking through the sky. I couldn’t hear the thunder, but I could feel slight vibrations from its powerful booms. I was completely mentally lost in the storm clouds when Thane walked into my room. I turned when I heard him softly clear his throat to get my attention. He came and stood beside me at the window.

  “I’m glad to see you up. Moving around will help you heal faster.” He was putting forth his best efforts at being professional. I nodded, as I was still under orders not to speak.

  “Oh, here, I brought you some tea. It will ease the pain in your throat. I put a little bit of lemon and honey in it.”

  He handed me the tea, and I silently mouthed him a thank you.

  “Let’s take a look at you and see how the healing is coming.”

  He ushered me back to the side of the bed. I carefully sat down trying to avoid any pain. Thane pushed and prodded on every tender painful spot on my body, apologizing every time I winced. He really did have a wonderful bedside manner.

  “You haven’t been using your pain button, Eveliene. I don’t want the pain to get ahead of you.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and smiled sheepishly.

  “Right now isn’t the time to be tough OK. I need you to be at your best.”

  I gave him an understanding look.

  “Go ahead and give that pain button a push. I think a walk would do you some good.”

  I pushed the little button to give me a squirt of morphine. Thane shut off my I.V. pumps and unhooked the tubing from the I.V. in my arm. He twisted a little orange cap on the hub of my I.V., and taped it down to my wrist. He took a syringe and a couple of alcohol pads from the top drawer of the cart that was located next to my bed and placed them in his pocket.

  “It’s just a little saline incase I need to flush the I.V.”

  He got some slippers from the bottom drawer of the crash cart and smiled as he placed them on my feet. There was a plush baby blue robe hanging on the back of the door. He fetched it for me and placed it over my shoulders before offering me his hand to help me out of bed. I carefully pushed my arms through the robe and tied it tightly around me. The storm was still brewing heavily outside as we left the confines of the tiny, makeshift emergency room. The corridor outside of my room didn’t seem like something Linkish. It was very clinical and stark. The hallway still had the same opulent wood floor, but the walls were a pale yellow and void of artwork. There was a small, empty nursing station at the end of the hallway near the elevator. It was surrounded by heart monitors. I was wondering if we were still in the main house or at a hospital when Thane answered the thoughts in my head as if on cue.

  “It looks pretty primitive, but everything is actually state of the art. Link had this clinic built right after we decided to leave the military. Sometimes our guys get a little out of control and need a bit of medical attention, and this is where they come.”

  He pressed the down button on the elevator. It opened instantly. Once inside, he pressed the button marked “B”, for basement, I assumed. We were on the fourth floor. Leave it to Jacks to build a multi floor hospital with state of the art equipment. He didn’t have the capability of doing anything small. We rode down in silence. The doors opened to a completely different environment from upstairs. The walls were made of river rock, and the floors looked like blue crystal that was illuminated from below. It gave the multicolored rocks an eerie glow. There were frosted glass doors at the end of the quirky corridor. Thane placed his hand onto a flat black panel at the side of the door. The black panel took on the same eerie blue glow as the rock wall. I heard the doors give a quiet click just before Thane removed his hand and pushed open the door allowing me to enter.

  “Eveliene…”

  I interrupted him and quietly whispered “Evie, for the love of all that is holy, please call me Evie.” I hated it when people used my full name. My mother only called me Eveliene when I was in trouble, plus it was too formal.

  Thane cleared his throat. “Evie it is, then. I apologize for forgetting. If at any time you feel like you need to sit, please let me know. “

  We came upon a very large and sturdy wooden door. Thane pulled out a key from his pants pocket and unlocked the door, once again allowing me to enter first. He must possess the patience of a saint being as I had the speed of a snail at the moment. This room had stark grey walls made of cinder blocks, cement floors, and was completely void of furniture. Thane allowed the heavy wooden door to slam shut. He spread his arms and turned to face me.

  “Welcome to the only place on the entire 250 acre property that doesn’t
have eyes or ears watching and eavesdropping on everything being done or said.” He leaned comfortably back into the wall and crossed his arms in front of him. “We’re free to speak in here Evie. Sorry that it’s not more comfortable.”

  I gave him a reassuring smile as I leaned back into the wall opposite from him. I could feel its cold dampness even through my nice thick robe.

  “There are a few things I’ve been dying to tell you, but I don’t know where to begin. Awww, hell. I’ll start with some good news. Your boys are here in the clinic.”

  I straightened up and was about to burst out a million questions, but Thane raised a powerful finger, hushing me. Like a child who’d just been scolded, I shrunk back into the wall. He continued.

  “I was able to convince Link that they desperately needed medical attention, and perhaps they’d be more willing to join our army if we showed them a little kindness. You know, the flies to honey theory. They are a floor below you, but are currently under the watch of heavily armed guards. At least while they are here, I can see to it that they are getting adequate nutrition, and are not being maimed.” He let out a weird chuckle. “Anyways, they are doing well. All things considered they are in pretty good spirits. I’m getting the impression that they have some sort of plan, but I need to get us all on the same page somehow.”

  “May I please speak now?”

  “I think it’ll be okay if you whisper.”

  “Thank God. Not talking is killing me. Tell Lenny I’ve made you an honorary member of The Pride. Let them know I’m upstairs. And, please let Brent know how sorry I am that he lost Paul.”

  “That’s another thing. I don’t think Brent is a member of your Pride anymore.”

  My heart skipped a few beats. “Oh, my gosh! What happened?

  “When the guards went to retrieve them from the cave, he surrendered his free will. He’s decided to become a member of Link’s army.”

  “He wouldn’t do that. I mean, they killed his brother for cripes sakes!”

  “Well, he did, and he’s actually fitting in really well.”